Soccer Opens 2014 Ranked No. 2

By fsu sports information&nbsp|&nbsp

Posted: Wed 9:28 PM, Aug 06, 2014

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Coming off a school record 23 wins, a berth in the national championship game and an ACC title, the Florida State Soccer team will open the 2014 campaign ranked No. 2 as announced by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America on Wednesday afternoon.

The No. 2 ranking marks the highest preseason ranking registered by the Seminoles in school history as Florida State started the 2013 season ranked third nationally. The ranking also marks the ninth straight year that the Garnet and Gold has earned a spot in the top 10 of the NSCAA's preseason poll. In fact, Florida State has been a fixture in the top 10 of the NSCAA poll now for 30 consecutive weeks.

"It’s always an honor to be recognized at the start of the season,” Florida State head coach Mark Krikorian said. “Although the No. 2 preseason ranking is flattering, it is where we finish at the end of the year that’s important to us.”

The Seminoles return nine starters and 14 letterwinners from last year’s squad that finished the season ranked No. 2.

“All of us are excited for the upcoming season,” added Krikorian. “We are all looking forward to the preseason workouts and to get things started on August 22 when we play Portland at home in front of our amazing fans.”

With seven College Cup appearances since 2003, Florida State is one of only two programs in the nation to play in soccer’s version of the ‘Final Four’ seven times in the last 11 years. Since 2000, the Seminoles have made 14 straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, played in 12 ‘Sweet 16’s’ and advanced to the quarterfinal round nine years in a row – the longest active streak in the nation.

The Seminoles are one of eight ACC schools ranked in the preseason poll and one of four ranked in the top 10. FSU will face seven teams in 2014 that are positioned inside the preseason top 25 including Virginia (No. 3), North Carolina (No. 4), Virginia Tech (No. 5), Florida (No. 8), Portland (No. 11), Duke (No. 18) and Boston College (No. 19).

This year marks the 20th season of the Florida State Soccer program which opens the 2014 campaign against the Portland Pilots on August 22 at 7:00 p.m. in Tallahassee.

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